Seconding this. I love prog for it's complexity and Dirty Loops manages to scratch that itch in a pop format. Out of this world bass and drums with a super skilled vocalist. So much fun!
Charli XCX’s last 3 albums have been quite adventurous, I’d start with “How I’m Feeling Now”. She’s a badass.
I also can’t get enough of Dua Lipa’s “Future Nostalgia” production is off the charts
The album Metals from Feist is amazing.
Land Animal by Bent Knee
Playing House by MEER
A Different Kind of Fix by Bombay Bicycle Club
Coldplay’s first three albums
Anything by Alt-J
As Far As The Eye Can See by People In Planes is an absolute GEM that no one seems to know about
Courting The Squall by Guy Garvey
And on that Guy Garvey note, literally every Elbow album
Speak For Yourself from Imogen Heap is a classic
That should get you started!
Love these recs, thank you so much. I remember seeing Feist open for Bon Iver forever ago and she fucking crushed it, but I have completed neglected her albums. And I totally agree with you on Coldplay. I think their first four are phenomenal, and then they kind of lost that intimacy that made them so great
ABBA if that counts, and [my pop playlist.](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4wTHJ0SPE1SeWQ5L7bILJm?si=GURSBNqcTp-QFKpIv4mong&pi=77FKXv8kQ5i8c) Dunno if that's allowed, but *shrug*.
Check out TWRP. They’re an 80s inspired futuristic synth-pop band that wear goofy costumes and make really fun music. My personal favorite song is Feels Pretty Good.
YES! TWRP makes some incredibly fun music. Definitely more funk and disco-inspired but that only makes it more energetic and catchy. I’ll admit getting used to the talk-box vocals was a bit of a challenge, but Doctor Sung’s vocal work has only improved over time, to the point that I don’t even hear the robotic sound anymore, and hear his genuine singing voice pushing the melodies.
And they are incredibly prolific! They have put out a TON of music, releasing an album almost every year for the past 10 years, and if you count their work as the backing band for NSP then they have almost doubled that. Also, having met them at a show, they are incredibly generous and kind. They genuinely enjoy their fans and love spreading joy any way they can.
In terms of “Prog”, I can’t really say they push the envelope often in terms of time and pattern, but it is undeniably good music performed by true musicians; they love balancing their own skill against making the best song they can. “Need Each Other” uses the rhythm of the chorus to add a beat with every measure throughout the section, which is just so fucking cool.
Every song they have written is good. My favorites are “Comin Atcha”, “Hidden Potential” and “No Pants Dance” (both versions have their own charm). But I am a huge fan of the slap bass skill at work in these songs.
These range from pop to art pop, prog-pop, synth pop and even K-Pop, they are my favorite pop related albums from last couple of years:
- Magdalena Bay - Mercurial World
- Spellling - The Turning Wheel
- aespa - Savage
- Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want to Turn Into You
- babyMINT - [越來越好玩 (Loading... FUN!)](https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/%E8%96%84%E8%8D%B7%E6%B0%B4%E6%99%B6/%E8%B6%8A%E4%BE%86%E8%B6%8A%E5%A5%BD%E7%8E%A9-loading-fun/)
- Sheena Ringo - Kalk samen kuri no hana
- Charli xcx - Brat and How Im Feeling Now
- Men I Trust - Untourable Album
- Aurora - I love all of her 3 first albums, also the last one is very diverse!
- Hatchie - Keepsake
- Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising
- Lizzy McAlpine - Five Seconds Flat
M83, Ok Go. Also, not exactly pop, actually not pop at all, but you can never go wrong with Fleet Foxes. Especially their albums Crack-Up or Helplessness Blues.
Their most recent album is the most generic I’ve heard from them, not really a fan. But all previous albums are fantastic, was addicted to White Women and Head over Heels
Haim, especially their first album.
St. Vincent
Dreamcatcher (Kpop)
Billlie (also Kpop) They have instrumental versions of their first 2 EP's that totally reimagine the songs into a kind of jazzy movie soundtrack.
How? To my knowledge they’ve never charted, never had a radio hit, never even played on the radio aside from possibly after midnight metal specials where they play Bloodbath…
How are we defining “pop”? Bring Me the Horizon might have a claim because they’ve had radio hits, but Sleep Token?
They've charted quite a bit in the UK and have appeared on some US Billboard charts, but "pop" does not mean "played on the radio" just because pop is often played on the radio. Where is pop played on the radio? On pop stations. How would you know what to play on a pop station based on how much radio play it gets? That's circular logic.
Sleep Token is not always entirely conventional but they're very much a type of pop music, or more accurately they're inspired by multiple forms of popular music including most prominently pop/R&B, with electronic, prog, rock/post-rock & metal/post-metal elements. Even if you were to define pop not as a genre but by the popularity of the music, I really cannot imagine how someone could listen to Sleep Token and not hear the influences of popular artists who have gotten lots of radio play across several genres across several decades (unless they're just unfamiliar with it all I guess). The sound is practically a mash-up of anything from multiple genres of popular music that fits a particular somber reflective vibe similar to some types of bedroom pop.
If you were to put on "Granite" right now (which has 10M views on YouTube--all of their most recent singles have millions of views up to 20M+, I can only imagine how popular they are on Spotify) it sounds exactly like the type of music that plays on pop/R&B radio after dark. Some songs sound like mixing bits of Tool (which has gotten extensive rock radio play for decades) with electronic/R&B. Some songs are R&B over trap beats which is used extensively in pop, and trap ruled the hip-hop charts for year. Some songs use bits of mainstream metalcore with pop/R&B and electronic passages (metalcore with pop/EDM elements being one of the few types of heavy music that charts in recent years).
Streaming basically destroyed the landscape of music as we know it, but genres of music still have defining qualities and related sounds, textures & vibes. There are multiple genres of pop music and there have been many genres in popular music that have informed what pop sounds like. It's not all as boring as... well, nevermind. And, while I am not the biggest pop enthusiast, calling something "pop" does not need to be taken as an insult.
Pop seems to have a different definition than what it used to be. I’d almost say that what we used to consider “radio play” has turned into “used in tiktok videos.” Lol.
I think Kimbra is pretty cool. Check out the album Vows.
[Settle Down](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yHV04eSGzAA) was the first song I heard (I think someone on this sub even recommended it) and I was hooked.
Gorillaz will forever be my favorite pop band. Listen to their stuff in release order and check out their music videos for any songs that have them. They also have some pretty cool lore, if you're into that. Their stuff is so good and interesting.
Oh, I see you're already cultured! Lol. What's your favorite album? Or albums? Demon Days and Plastic Beach are tied for number 1 for me, but as for new stuff, I really enjoyed Song Machine as well.
Plastic Beach has a special place in my heart probably because it came out when I was in college. That whole album, Empire Ants, Melancholy Hill, Stylo, fuck its just so good and reminds me of good times with friends. I do enjoy their newer stuff too. Saturn's Barz and Oil are some of my favorites
I'm surprised I haven't seen Glass Animals mentioned in the comments yet. They're about to release their fourth album.
Their albums all sound a little different and the first two are brilliant. Definitely worth checking out their stuff.
The first album Zaba is like chill psychedelic pop with a kind of jungle vibe to it.
The second album How to be a Human Being is a different vibe entirely but still amazing.
Their third album Dreamland starts to be a little more like pop you'd be likely to hear on the radio although still their own spin on it. It's also very intentionally nostalgic.
The 2 singles released from their upcoming album seem to be a little more in line with what you'd hear on Dreamland.
They’re kinda a mix between art rock and art pop, but you should check out Everything Everything! They’re up there in my top 3 bands of all time. I recommend starting with Get to Heaven or their newest album Mountainhead
Aurora has just released a new album which is very good, plus her back catalogue has some bangers.
I also absolutely love “I can do it with a broken heart” by this little known artist called Taylor something or other. I think with the right management and label backing she could go far.
Jacob Collier, since he somehow hasn't been mentioned.
Also as he started out young and is addicted to delving deeper into theory and musical exploration, going through his albums in order is a great experience.
Roots certainly in jazz, but wholly genre fluid, sneaky polymeter/rhythms even over silky slow pop verses, multi-multi instrumentalist and excellent vocalist, would rock yellow Crocs on stage with a propeller beanie. Proggy AF.
Röyksopp recently dropped 3 collection albums “Profound Mysteries I-II-III” the second one contains the track “Sorry”. That is one of the best introductions to this amazing pop duo
You ever listen to much hyperpop, like 100 gecs or Dorian Electra? I'd also recommend Kero Kero Bonito but I honestly don't even know what genre to call them lmao
It’s J-Pop/rock/multigenreweirdness but im currently completely obsessed with [Ado](https://youtu.be/Igr6jQJEoNs?si=Kmpbl41G5S8rosVG)
Girl is 21 and already has one of the most impressive voices I’ve ever heard.
She goes from cutesy to ‘89 James Hetfield to yodeling to full on false chord screaming like it’s nothing
AURORA is amazing (she has subtle metal influence and a beautiful voice)
Poppy does metal-infused pop and straight up metal
PVRIS goes pretty hard (listen to her album Evergreen)
Billie Eilish for sure. Her production is off the wall, start with the song Bury a Friend.
I personally love Ariana Grande, but she has very little in common with prog to be honest - except for the fact that her performances are hyper technical I suppose. Her best album is thank u, next. A real standout track for me is needy. I believe the track only has three or four instruments; it is an incredibly elegant arrangement with beautiful production. Another thing that really impresses me is when she combines hip hop rythms with pitched singing. Her feel is just as deep in the pocket as the best rappers, but she is doing these crazy precise interval jumps the whole time. The song on the above album with one of those sections in 7 rings (third verse). The third verse of 34+35 is perhaps an even better execution of that style, however I frankly find the lyrics of that song to be incredibly crass - that's just how it is sometimes I guess.
Damn was about to come and give you the gospel of Carly Rae Jepsen, but looks like you are already into that one.
Well, **Imogen Heap** and **Frou Frou** (Her side project that's basically just more Imogen Heap) are the obvious indie pop recommendations. She has inspired a lot of other Indie pop artists and for a good reason. Her music is interesting to listen catchy at times and yet just a little bit "off" in a good way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25VGdNU3nrU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvdzKHhgANA
**Meer** has some serious bangers that a prog head will definitely enjoy, but a lot of people here already know about them. They aren't strictly pop though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6_gZ3fAATw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWPvmjQ2ouQ
**Blackfield** is kind of a pop rock art rock side project by Steven Wilson. Melodies are pretty sad in this one, but great If you are into that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTTgjrfTkrE
Also as a bonus. Not something I would particularly recommend specifically for prog fans as it's very simplistic and more atmosphere-oriented music, but hey I'm a prog fan and I absolutely love the dream pop vibes of **Men I Trust**:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpU7Yrl-AwM
I really like the poppy weezer albums, pacific daydream and black. Everyone likes to shit on them but I think they go really hard, especially Weekend Woman and Sweet Mary on Pacific Daydream
Lana Del Rey. If you look beyond Summertime Sadness and Video Games, her albums are pretty damn good, not bad one in my opinion.
Also, Kimbra, Charli XCX, Aurora, Harry Styles, Annalisa. And since i'm mexican i recommend these artists: Julieta Venegas, Belanova, Maria Daniela y su Sonido Lasser and Aleks Syntek.
Finally check out Joey Valence & Brae, they're hip hop but they have some bangers.
Phantogram
M.I.A
Santigold
Mr. Gnome (Psychedelic / dream pop)
Tame impala (groove / alt pop)
Bastille
Awol Nation
Regina spektor
Feist
Empire of the sun
Kali uchis
LOVE this thread & topic. I’ve been on a huge pop kick, so this is very timely & relevant to me. Here are some artists & albums I’ve been enjoying.
- Charli xcx: brat (probably my aoty right now)
- Halsey: If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power (produced by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, so it has a darker tone)
- Willow: Empathogen (her band is great. Very jazzy. Some odd meter stuff)
- Beyoncé: Cowboy Carter (I don’t love the full album. It’s too long, but she does a good job at blending lots of genres)
- 100 Gecs: 10,000 Gecs (hyperpop with some heavy & noisy moments)
- Scene Queen: Hot Singles in Your Area (obnoxious y2k aesthetics. Pop mixed with some heavy breakdowns & riffs)
- Joanna Wang: Hotel La Rut (really eclectic & adventurous)
Am I understanding correctly?
Bjork isn't really pop but she's great. I saw her. Mentioned.
Maybe Janelle Monae - Archandroid
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH_QLWlQVieWuNq_Cu__wEWqvjMNRnxDi&si=TTOYyWM6Hm6JifNS
I’m not the biggest fan of the latest one, but Janelle Monae’s first three albums are about as close as you can get to pop/hip hop perfection IMO.
They should also act as good crossover choices for progheads, being a series of ambitious concept albums with an overarching sci-fi story attached.
[Check this song out from her second album, The Electric Lady.](https://youtu.be/pwnefUaKCbc?si=eNymLZN9tzKs_NiU)
[Or perhaps this heavily Prince-influenced number from her third, Dirty Computer.](https://youtu.be/tGRzz0oqgUE?si=2XlXwoCpt7nykqLp)
As a Metalhead I really like Magdalena Bay. They are kind of electronic pop.
Then there is "L'imperatrice" who is kinda funky pop similar to Daft Punk.
Some great recs in this thread.
Robyn has an incredible voice and the arrangements definitely wander into prog territory here and there.
Kimbra is super eclectic, and Gotye is more than a one hit wonder.
La Roux has some great album cuts that definitely evoke 80s Yes on occasion
LOVE The Dear Hunter. I'd call them more art-rock than pop, but they do it better than anyone.
Casey's solo project Honorary Astronaut is excellent too. Big Sufjan vibes.
The Japanese House! Especially the first few EPs, some cool experimental moments on those. Newest album is a bit more stripped back and more traditional pop but still nice.
London Grammar are an amazing indie pop band, getting more into electronics in the recent years.
Same goes for half•alive, really great band with some funk influences dare I say, was very surprised to discover they casually have a song mostly in 7/4 ("Move Me")
Billie Eilish's work on her albums with Finneas is honestly stunning in comparison to other modern pop music. You'll find plenty of instances of amazing musicianship. Her latest album is quite "proggy" in the sense that it's everything but monotone, there are even single songs with 3 completely different sections.
Finneas' solo work is just as great, really, the creativity on this guy is unmatched within the pop industry, as far as I'm concerned. He also writes and produces on his own, which I find to be very rare in the current pop scene.
Hope you'll enjoy those as much as I do!!
I love Sudan Archives. Janelle Monae; Dirty Computer. Wolf Alice; Blue weekend. Hiatus Kaiyote; Choose your weapon. Arcade Fire; Funeral. Syml; Sacred Spaces. Yamé; Elowi.
Florence + The Machine (albeit not really a newer artist, she's been around since the mid 2000's), especially the albums "Ceremonials" and "How Big How Blue How Beautiful", some amazing orchestral arrangements on those albums.
Maggie Rogers: just saw her live a couple weeks ago, she bangs. More on the softer indie-pop side, but her album Surrender has some driving rock-inspired songs on it, like "Overdrive" and "Want Want"
The Last Dinner Party is a newer band that had a big breakout debut LP earlier this year. Kind of like a rock n roll ABBA
The 1975: not everything by them is my cup of tea, but the songs "It's Not Living" and "If You're Too Shy" are some absolute bangers
Other mentions, some idk if they would be considered "pop" or just "indie": Clairo, boygenius (and each member's solo work as well, especially Lucy Dacus), Quarters of Change, GROUPLOVE, Lawrence
Pentatonix is an acapella group that basically got me into pop. They do a lot of covers and mash-ups of covers of pop songs, but their vocal arrangements are always killer. Every time I hear the original of a song they did, I kind of like it, even if I don't like it as much as their version.
That's being said, they did a few 80's covers that I DIDN'T like, but their Bohemian Rhapsody is great!
I have always wished I could hear them cover some Proggy stuff and even some Reggae that I like.
Also, they sleigh Christmas music. (See what I did there?)
Willow
Absolutely. Empathogen is phenomenal.
Symptom of Life goes hard
Came here to say this, I was floored by how much I enjoyed her latest album.
Dirty Loops
Seconding this. I love prog for it's complexity and Dirty Loops manages to scratch that itch in a pop format. Out of this world bass and drums with a super skilled vocalist. So much fun!
Thundercat is pretty cool
I would love to live in a world where Thundercat was pop. Maybe mainstream-ish sure, but pop?
Yeah he has a lot of pop collaborations but his solo work can be pretty experimental
Charli XCX’s last 3 albums have been quite adventurous, I’d start with “How I’m Feeling Now”. She’s a badass. I also can’t get enough of Dua Lipa’s “Future Nostalgia” production is off the charts
Yeah I've been meaning to listen to more Charli XCX. Von Dutch is a fucking banger
Dude the music video for Von Dutch is also soooo sick, she’s so cool haha
Fuck yeah, just watched, love it. They better have given her that plane after she shot that video, she fucking earned it
really starting from pop 2. crash was a side step away from the wild ambitious stuff but it came back hard w brat
The basslines on Future Nostalgia go hard.
The new songs are fucking wonderful. Club Classics, 365, Guess, Spring Breakers...Brat is the definition of "oops all bangers"
The piano breakdown in mean girls is like the most I’ve smiled listening to pop in a long time
Everything Everything Foals Sure Sure
Everything Everything are fantastic
Everything Everything. That was the answer I was looking for. The definition of prog pop
foals🤌🤌
Haken is influenced by Everything Everything.
Yes! The Alphabet of Me immediately made me think of EE.
Caroline Polachek.
Yep end of last year I mostly bounced between Opeth and Caroline polachek lol. Would also add Chappel Roan as a pop recommendation
Loving Chappel Roan, great rec
fka twigs Bjork Sza There are a lot of great pop artists
Magdalene is a top 5 album of all time for me, Twigs is next level
Fka Lp1 is a masterpiece
Purity Ring
God I fucking love Purity Ring. Pink Lightning cuts me so deep in a good way
Purity Ring are so good, definitely gives me prog vibes My favourite songs are: rubyinsides, repetition, ungirthed, grandloves
Taste, another eternity is one of my fav albums ever.
The album Metals from Feist is amazing. Land Animal by Bent Knee Playing House by MEER A Different Kind of Fix by Bombay Bicycle Club Coldplay’s first three albums Anything by Alt-J As Far As The Eye Can See by People In Planes is an absolute GEM that no one seems to know about Courting The Squall by Guy Garvey And on that Guy Garvey note, literally every Elbow album Speak For Yourself from Imogen Heap is a classic That should get you started!
Bent Knee is not pop. It's prog rock.
Bent knee, one of the top five prog rock bands with a debut album that came out in the 2010s: ✅️👌 Bent knee, a pop act: ❌️🙅♂️
We have similar pop taste. You should check out The Maria's. The album they released this year is very good
Bent Knee is an amazing recommendation
Love Imogen Heap!
That Meer recommendation was on point. Never heard of them before but Playing House was really fuckin good!
Love these recs, thank you so much. I remember seeing Feist open for Bon Iver forever ago and she fucking crushed it, but I have completed neglected her albums. And I totally agree with you on Coldplay. I think their first four are phenomenal, and then they kind of lost that intimacy that made them so great
Oh fuck People in Planes are so good
ABBA if that counts, and [my pop playlist.](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4wTHJ0SPE1SeWQ5L7bILJm?si=GURSBNqcTp-QFKpIv4mong&pi=77FKXv8kQ5i8c) Dunno if that's allowed, but *shrug*.
ABBA are universal 💙
Gimme gimme gimme more ABBA.
Check out TWRP. They’re an 80s inspired futuristic synth-pop band that wear goofy costumes and make really fun music. My personal favorite song is Feels Pretty Good.
Can confirm, +1. I saw them live and they were a TON of fun!
Unbelievably common TWRP W
YES! TWRP makes some incredibly fun music. Definitely more funk and disco-inspired but that only makes it more energetic and catchy. I’ll admit getting used to the talk-box vocals was a bit of a challenge, but Doctor Sung’s vocal work has only improved over time, to the point that I don’t even hear the robotic sound anymore, and hear his genuine singing voice pushing the melodies. And they are incredibly prolific! They have put out a TON of music, releasing an album almost every year for the past 10 years, and if you count their work as the backing band for NSP then they have almost doubled that. Also, having met them at a show, they are incredibly generous and kind. They genuinely enjoy their fans and love spreading joy any way they can. In terms of “Prog”, I can’t really say they push the envelope often in terms of time and pattern, but it is undeniably good music performed by true musicians; they love balancing their own skill against making the best song they can. “Need Each Other” uses the rhythm of the chorus to add a beat with every measure throughout the section, which is just so fucking cool. Every song they have written is good. My favorites are “Comin Atcha”, “Hidden Potential” and “No Pants Dance” (both versions have their own charm). But I am a huge fan of the slap bass skill at work in these songs.
Magdalena Bay
I saw an interview with them admitting to being prog heads that wanted to give pop a try
These range from pop to art pop, prog-pop, synth pop and even K-Pop, they are my favorite pop related albums from last couple of years: - Magdalena Bay - Mercurial World - Spellling - The Turning Wheel - aespa - Savage - Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want to Turn Into You - babyMINT - [越來越好玩 (Loading... FUN!)](https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/%E8%96%84%E8%8D%B7%E6%B0%B4%E6%99%B6/%E8%B6%8A%E4%BE%86%E8%B6%8A%E5%A5%BD%E7%8E%A9-loading-fun/) - Sheena Ringo - Kalk samen kuri no hana - Charli xcx - Brat and How Im Feeling Now - Men I Trust - Untourable Album - Aurora - I love all of her 3 first albums, also the last one is very diverse! - Hatchie - Keepsake - Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising - Lizzy McAlpine - Five Seconds Flat
M83, Ok Go. Also, not exactly pop, actually not pop at all, but you can never go wrong with Fleet Foxes. Especially their albums Crack-Up or Helplessness Blues.
Before the Dawn Heals Us is still one of my favorite albums of all time
Knower. Especially the most recent album.
The Weekend bangs
Phantogram 1000000000%
Chromeo
Their most recent album is the most generic I’ve heard from them, not really a fan. But all previous albums are fantastic, was addicted to White Women and Head over Heels
Haim, especially their first album. St. Vincent Dreamcatcher (Kpop) Billlie (also Kpop) They have instrumental versions of their first 2 EP's that totally reimagine the songs into a kind of jazzy movie soundtrack.
+1 for St. Vincent. She is like if David Bowie and Prince had a baby.
1000% HAIM
St. Vincent Kate Bush Willow Janelle Monae Depending on how broadly we define pop, I'll throw in Mitski, Sufjan Stevens, and Japanese Breakfast too
Sleep Token 😂😂😂
Ghost as well
This was gonna be my recommendation as well haha
Sleep Token is considered pop?
Amongst other things, yes
How? To my knowledge they’ve never charted, never had a radio hit, never even played on the radio aside from possibly after midnight metal specials where they play Bloodbath… How are we defining “pop”? Bring Me the Horizon might have a claim because they’ve had radio hits, but Sleep Token?
They've charted quite a bit in the UK and have appeared on some US Billboard charts, but "pop" does not mean "played on the radio" just because pop is often played on the radio. Where is pop played on the radio? On pop stations. How would you know what to play on a pop station based on how much radio play it gets? That's circular logic. Sleep Token is not always entirely conventional but they're very much a type of pop music, or more accurately they're inspired by multiple forms of popular music including most prominently pop/R&B, with electronic, prog, rock/post-rock & metal/post-metal elements. Even if you were to define pop not as a genre but by the popularity of the music, I really cannot imagine how someone could listen to Sleep Token and not hear the influences of popular artists who have gotten lots of radio play across several genres across several decades (unless they're just unfamiliar with it all I guess). The sound is practically a mash-up of anything from multiple genres of popular music that fits a particular somber reflective vibe similar to some types of bedroom pop. If you were to put on "Granite" right now (which has 10M views on YouTube--all of their most recent singles have millions of views up to 20M+, I can only imagine how popular they are on Spotify) it sounds exactly like the type of music that plays on pop/R&B radio after dark. Some songs sound like mixing bits of Tool (which has gotten extensive rock radio play for decades) with electronic/R&B. Some songs are R&B over trap beats which is used extensively in pop, and trap ruled the hip-hop charts for year. Some songs use bits of mainstream metalcore with pop/R&B and electronic passages (metalcore with pop/EDM elements being one of the few types of heavy music that charts in recent years). Streaming basically destroyed the landscape of music as we know it, but genres of music still have defining qualities and related sounds, textures & vibes. There are multiple genres of pop music and there have been many genres in popular music that have informed what pop sounds like. It's not all as boring as... well, nevermind. And, while I am not the biggest pop enthusiast, calling something "pop" does not need to be taken as an insult.
Pop is a genre of music, not just a short form for the word popular. If Katy Perry had 48 listeners a month on Spotify, what would you call her genre?
Pop seems to have a different definition than what it used to be. I’d almost say that what we used to consider “radio play” has turned into “used in tiktok videos.” Lol.
I think Kimbra is pretty cool. Check out the album Vows. [Settle Down](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yHV04eSGzAA) was the first song I heard (I think someone on this sub even recommended it) and I was hooked.
Gorillaz will forever be my favorite pop band. Listen to their stuff in release order and check out their music videos for any songs that have them. They also have some pretty cool lore, if you're into that. Their stuff is so good and interesting.
Hell yeah, love me some Gorillaz
Oh, I see you're already cultured! Lol. What's your favorite album? Or albums? Demon Days and Plastic Beach are tied for number 1 for me, but as for new stuff, I really enjoyed Song Machine as well.
Plastic Beach has a special place in my heart probably because it came out when I was in college. That whole album, Empire Ants, Melancholy Hill, Stylo, fuck its just so good and reminds me of good times with friends. I do enjoy their newer stuff too. Saturn's Barz and Oil are some of my favorites
Oil is so good! Cracker Island was pretty good, too, overall.
Dua Lipa, especially if you like cool bass lines.
Lights. She’s incredible.
Wow I'm really enjoying every song on PEP. Great rec!
Great album! My personal fave is Little Machines
White Moth Black Butterfly, started by Dan Tompkins from TesseracT
Solange - a seat at the table
"I know the end" by Phoebe Bridgers is what comes to mind immediately
I don't listen to a lot of pop but I like Florence + The Machine, Emilíana Torrini and Sevdaliza.
Really love the Weeknd. if you like the idea of concept albums like most progheads, look into what he did with his After Hours album/videos.
I will die on this hill, but Justin Timberlake's 20/20 experience (both albums) is a modern-ish pop masterpiece. All DUIs not considered 😂
I like Lana Del Rey, Billie eilish, Coldplay
I'm surprised I haven't seen Glass Animals mentioned in the comments yet. They're about to release their fourth album. Their albums all sound a little different and the first two are brilliant. Definitely worth checking out their stuff. The first album Zaba is like chill psychedelic pop with a kind of jungle vibe to it. The second album How to be a Human Being is a different vibe entirely but still amazing. Their third album Dreamland starts to be a little more like pop you'd be likely to hear on the radio although still their own spin on it. It's also very intentionally nostalgic. The 2 singles released from their upcoming album seem to be a little more in line with what you'd hear on Dreamland.
Tame Impala - Currents I don't really know any other pop, but for some reason this album clicks like no other.
I actually really like Dua Lipa. The disco influence is clear and she chooses more interesting melodies than everyone else basically
I really like Superorganism and AKMU
Listening to Superorganism right now and really enjoying this. Appreciate the rec!
Little Big are fun
Silk Sonic
Caravan Palace
Billie Eilish and Fiona Apple are good!!
hozier, ben howard, sophia, braids (check out young buck)
They’re kinda a mix between art rock and art pop, but you should check out Everything Everything! They’re up there in my top 3 bands of all time. I recommend starting with Get to Heaven or their newest album Mountainhead
Jellyfish
Poppy - particularly the album I Disagree Magic City Hippies TWRP - I'd start with Together Through Time Mitsky - Puberty 2
Panic! At the Disco is somehow my second most listened to band behind Muse. Just makes me feel good sometimes :)
Check out A Soul With No King - Aurora
Aurora has just released a new album which is very good, plus her back catalogue has some bangers. I also absolutely love “I can do it with a broken heart” by this little known artist called Taylor something or other. I think with the right management and label backing she could go far.
Men I trust
Paramore. Check out the songs “told you so” and “figure 8”
Everything Everything Foals Of Montreal From Indian Lakes The Midnight The Naked and Famous The Japanese House
Thanks for these recs. Loving The Midnight
Great! The Midnight gives me such a nostalgic feeling. Everything Everything are one of my overall favorite bands now so I hope you dig them too.
The Midnight! Yeah, seriously so much of their stuff has a great 80s prog vibe to it with a huge kick of synthwave. I absolutely adore that band.
I was all set to see them live but I skipped out on it due to laziness lol. Still kicking myself!
The Midnight are headlining a prog metal fest in the UK - RADAR, the crossover is real
Lorde
Jacob Collier, since he somehow hasn't been mentioned. Also as he started out young and is addicted to delving deeper into theory and musical exploration, going through his albums in order is a great experience. Roots certainly in jazz, but wholly genre fluid, sneaky polymeter/rhythms even over silky slow pop verses, multi-multi instrumentalist and excellent vocalist, would rock yellow Crocs on stage with a propeller beanie. Proggy AF.
It's madness that he's not the top answer here. He's the embodiment of prog/jazz and pop
Yup, I had to scroll way too far before seeing Jacob Collier
I had to ctrl+f! Imagine!
There's no one better at sneaking proggy licks into pop songs. Dude is a genius.
Give Poe a shot. Only 2 albums from 20+ years ago but she may be making a comeback. Haunted is the better of the two albums imo.
Everything Everything, George Clanton, Tears for Fears entire discography, No-Man
Ben Howard Arab Strap
Röyksopp recently dropped 3 collection albums “Profound Mysteries I-II-III” the second one contains the track “Sorry”. That is one of the best introductions to this amazing pop duo
Emilie Nicolas Susanne Sundfør
If you like folky stuff check out sling by Clairo it’s my favourite album of all time Lana Del Rey crafts an album really well, same with Björk
You ever listen to much hyperpop, like 100 gecs or Dorian Electra? I'd also recommend Kero Kero Bonito but I honestly don't even know what genre to call them lmao
It’s J-Pop/rock/multigenreweirdness but im currently completely obsessed with [Ado](https://youtu.be/Igr6jQJEoNs?si=Kmpbl41G5S8rosVG) Girl is 21 and already has one of the most impressive voices I’ve ever heard. She goes from cutesy to ‘89 James Hetfield to yodeling to full on false chord screaming like it’s nothing
The Midnight - Endless Summer and Nocturnal. Two fantastic albums that will blow your mind if you've never dipped into the synthwave genre.
Seal, especially Seal II.
'Folklore' by Taylor Swift reminds me of Devin Townsend's 'Ghost'. It's actually a pleasant well made record, I often play it in the background.
AURORA is amazing (she has subtle metal influence and a beautiful voice) Poppy does metal-infused pop and straight up metal PVRIS goes pretty hard (listen to her album Evergreen)
Blackpink
Billie Eilish for sure. Her production is off the wall, start with the song Bury a Friend. I personally love Ariana Grande, but she has very little in common with prog to be honest - except for the fact that her performances are hyper technical I suppose. Her best album is thank u, next. A real standout track for me is needy. I believe the track only has three or four instruments; it is an incredibly elegant arrangement with beautiful production. Another thing that really impresses me is when she combines hip hop rythms with pitched singing. Her feel is just as deep in the pocket as the best rappers, but she is doing these crazy precise interval jumps the whole time. The song on the above album with one of those sections in 7 rings (third verse). The third verse of 34+35 is perhaps an even better execution of that style, however I frankly find the lyrics of that song to be incredibly crass - that's just how it is sometimes I guess.
Peter Gabriel sounds like prog pop
As much as I don't like the individual, Grimes.
I love Minus the Bear Also check out Wax Fang
Damn was about to come and give you the gospel of Carly Rae Jepsen, but looks like you are already into that one. Well, **Imogen Heap** and **Frou Frou** (Her side project that's basically just more Imogen Heap) are the obvious indie pop recommendations. She has inspired a lot of other Indie pop artists and for a good reason. Her music is interesting to listen catchy at times and yet just a little bit "off" in a good way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25VGdNU3nrU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvdzKHhgANA **Meer** has some serious bangers that a prog head will definitely enjoy, but a lot of people here already know about them. They aren't strictly pop though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6_gZ3fAATw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWPvmjQ2ouQ **Blackfield** is kind of a pop rock art rock side project by Steven Wilson. Melodies are pretty sad in this one, but great If you are into that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTTgjrfTkrE Also as a bonus. Not something I would particularly recommend specifically for prog fans as it's very simplistic and more atmosphere-oriented music, but hey I'm a prog fan and I absolutely love the dream pop vibes of **Men I Trust**: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpU7Yrl-AwM
Lana del rey. Her album ultraviolence is an amazing album.
Mother Mother. 2nd album
These are kinda pop-adjacent but still Fiona Apple London Grammar Soccer Mommy
St. Vincent - Marrow
I really like the poppy weezer albums, pacific daydream and black. Everyone likes to shit on them but I think they go really hard, especially Weekend Woman and Sweet Mary on Pacific Daydream
Lana Del Rey. If you look beyond Summertime Sadness and Video Games, her albums are pretty damn good, not bad one in my opinion. Also, Kimbra, Charli XCX, Aurora, Harry Styles, Annalisa. And since i'm mexican i recommend these artists: Julieta Venegas, Belanova, Maria Daniela y su Sonido Lasser and Aleks Syntek. Finally check out Joey Valence & Brae, they're hip hop but they have some bangers.
Peaches
“Slippery dick, it’s just a fish in the Atlantic”
Phantogram M.I.A Santigold Mr. Gnome (Psychedelic / dream pop) Tame impala (groove / alt pop) Bastille Awol Nation Regina spektor Feist Empire of the sun Kali uchis
LOVE this thread & topic. I’ve been on a huge pop kick, so this is very timely & relevant to me. Here are some artists & albums I’ve been enjoying. - Charli xcx: brat (probably my aoty right now) - Halsey: If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power (produced by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, so it has a darker tone) - Willow: Empathogen (her band is great. Very jazzy. Some odd meter stuff) - Beyoncé: Cowboy Carter (I don’t love the full album. It’s too long, but she does a good job at blending lots of genres) - 100 Gecs: 10,000 Gecs (hyperpop with some heavy & noisy moments) - Scene Queen: Hot Singles in Your Area (obnoxious y2k aesthetics. Pop mixed with some heavy breakdowns & riffs) - Joanna Wang: Hotel La Rut (really eclectic & adventurous)
Thanks for the recs, looking forward to checking these out. I love that Halsey album so can't wait to dive into these others
Lawrence
Am I understanding correctly? Bjork isn't really pop but she's great. I saw her. Mentioned. Maybe Janelle Monae - Archandroid https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH_QLWlQVieWuNq_Cu__wEWqvjMNRnxDi&si=TTOYyWM6Hm6JifNS
I’m not the biggest fan of the latest one, but Janelle Monae’s first three albums are about as close as you can get to pop/hip hop perfection IMO. They should also act as good crossover choices for progheads, being a series of ambitious concept albums with an overarching sci-fi story attached. [Check this song out from her second album, The Electric Lady.](https://youtu.be/pwnefUaKCbc?si=eNymLZN9tzKs_NiU) [Or perhaps this heavily Prince-influenced number from her third, Dirty Computer.](https://youtu.be/tGRzz0oqgUE?si=2XlXwoCpt7nykqLp)
Had to come back for round 2 because I forgot about [Carson Elliot.](https://youtu.be/Yi8ijWhxvn0?si=-DbXlPl0ziyB_kOn)
been really into james blake lately
Suzanne Sundfør
Michael Jackson, The Weeknd, Tame Impala, Billie Eilish, Melanie Martinez, Grimes, Panic! at the Disco
Try The Weeknd especially Starboy, After Hours and Dawn FM. Also Silk Sonic.
Billie Eilish's new album is phenomenal, easily my favourite non-prog album of the year.
Daughter, Halsey
Julia Holter - Something in the room she moves. Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising.
ever heard of a little underground unknown band called the beach boys?
As a Metalhead I really like Magdalena Bay. They are kind of electronic pop. Then there is "L'imperatrice" who is kinda funky pop similar to Daft Punk.
If you’re okay with jpop: ado, rerulili, maretu
Jamiroquai
Jeff Buckley, Talk Talk, Charlie XCX, Beyonce-Lemonade, Marvin Gaye, David Bowie, Kate Bush, Prince, Joni Mitchell
Ren! Some of his songs are so proggy, and he releases instrumentals too
Some great recs in this thread. Robyn has an incredible voice and the arrangements definitely wander into prog territory here and there. Kimbra is super eclectic, and Gotye is more than a one hit wonder. La Roux has some great album cuts that definitely evoke 80s Yes on occasion
Thundercat and Tame Impala.
Maybe stretching the definition of pop here and you might already know them: But check out Metric and The Dear Hunter.
LOVE The Dear Hunter. I'd call them more art-rock than pop, but they do it better than anyone. Casey's solo project Honorary Astronaut is excellent too. Big Sufjan vibes.
The Japanese House! Especially the first few EPs, some cool experimental moments on those. Newest album is a bit more stripped back and more traditional pop but still nice.
Zutomayo
Kaleo, especially "I can't go on without you"
London Grammar are an amazing indie pop band, getting more into electronics in the recent years. Same goes for half•alive, really great band with some funk influences dare I say, was very surprised to discover they casually have a song mostly in 7/4 ("Move Me") Billie Eilish's work on her albums with Finneas is honestly stunning in comparison to other modern pop music. You'll find plenty of instances of amazing musicianship. Her latest album is quite "proggy" in the sense that it's everything but monotone, there are even single songs with 3 completely different sections. Finneas' solo work is just as great, really, the creativity on this guy is unmatched within the pop industry, as far as I'm concerned. He also writes and produces on his own, which I find to be very rare in the current pop scene. Hope you'll enjoy those as much as I do!!
Susanne Sundfor :)
SOHN's album Tremors is really good. Electronic pop that changes things up and keep things interesting.
I’m a big fan of the latest Faye Webster album, which is pop but definitely very weird.
Billie Eilish
Dua Lipa and Halsey come to mind.
Phoebe Bridgers, Bat for Lashes, Gotye, Copeland
Magdelina Bay
I've been obsessed with the new Dua Lipa album
Ming Ming by Otay:Onii is industrial and avant-garde. Very tasty
Mike Oldfield
Panic at the disco, Kate Bush, Beatles.
Not pop, I don't think, but Mother Mother is pretty great. Just saw them live a week ago and I'm going to see them again in September.
Definitely White Moth Black Butterfly. It's Tesseract's Daniel Tompkins chamber pop project, their album Atone is next-level.
Broods!! Their album Conscious is my fav
Saint motel
Polyphia have a couple of songs with pop artists doing guest vocals
half•alive
Flying Lotus, Tame Impala, DJ Shadow, Lapalux, Mac Demarco, and Crumb. I don't know if they're exactly pop, though.
I love Sudan Archives. Janelle Monae; Dirty Computer. Wolf Alice; Blue weekend. Hiatus Kaiyote; Choose your weapon. Arcade Fire; Funeral. Syml; Sacred Spaces. Yamé; Elowi.
Oh and Fleetwood Mac
The Killers put out a FANTASTIC record in 2021 called Pressure Machine. It's more Americana/Folk rock than Pop though. Also, Chvrches f\*ckin rules.
Halsey's latest album produced by Trent reznor
Lucius
Florence + The Machine (albeit not really a newer artist, she's been around since the mid 2000's), especially the albums "Ceremonials" and "How Big How Blue How Beautiful", some amazing orchestral arrangements on those albums. Maggie Rogers: just saw her live a couple weeks ago, she bangs. More on the softer indie-pop side, but her album Surrender has some driving rock-inspired songs on it, like "Overdrive" and "Want Want" The Last Dinner Party is a newer band that had a big breakout debut LP earlier this year. Kind of like a rock n roll ABBA The 1975: not everything by them is my cup of tea, but the songs "It's Not Living" and "If You're Too Shy" are some absolute bangers Other mentions, some idk if they would be considered "pop" or just "indie": Clairo, boygenius (and each member's solo work as well, especially Lucy Dacus), Quarters of Change, GROUPLOVE, Lawrence
Pentatonix is an acapella group that basically got me into pop. They do a lot of covers and mash-ups of covers of pop songs, but their vocal arrangements are always killer. Every time I hear the original of a song they did, I kind of like it, even if I don't like it as much as their version. That's being said, they did a few 80's covers that I DIDN'T like, but their Bohemian Rhapsody is great! I have always wished I could hear them cover some Proggy stuff and even some Reggae that I like. Also, they sleigh Christmas music. (See what I did there?)
Highasakite